So the chances of the Blackhawks making the Stanley Cup Finals this year are very slim.  But like Lloyd said in the movie Dumb and Dumber, “So you're telling me there's a chance...YEAH!”

Yes there is a slim chance but something the Hawks have already gained is experience in the postseason. Just to keep this playoff run in perspective (because as fans we get pretty greedy as playoff runs go on), Chicago wasn’t supposed to be in the Western Conference Finals this year.

As the youngest team in the NHL this season, the Hawks have exceeded just about everybody’s expectations (probably even their own). In doing so, the team has gained that experience that many claim to be so important.

This team had a semi-goalie crisis at the beginning of the season and a slow start from their captain Jonathan Toews. They overcame the goalie situation and Toews has established himself as a young star. A playoff run like this is only going to benefit this team in the long run.  They’ve now “been there” and that is important.

So regardless of what happens on Wednesday in Detroit, this team has gained a lot this spring.  Even though the task is tall, I wouldn’t count them out just yet though.  At any rate, since Chicago defeated Calgary in round one, everything this team has done since is gravy.

Also, the AHL's Calder Cup Finals are set and it's hard for me to predict a winner since the IceHogs didn't play Hershey this season.  Both Manitoba and Hershey are absolutley rolling into the Finals. Manitoba did lose a pair of overtime games against Houston before finishing the Aeros off in Game Six on Monday.

It should be a great Finals and there are three former IceHogs' skaters playing for Manitoba in the Finals. Check www.icehogs.com for more information of the trio playing for the Moose and for the Calder Cup Finals schedule.